Day 2: Comillas to Llanes

Today went so much better than yesterday and I already feel like we're finding a grove.

We had a decision to make right away in the morning of what we wanted our "stage" to look like. The recommended stage was almost 20 miles.... and I was not feeling that. I was concerned about jumping in a little too quickly to the long days without giving my body (mostly my feet) the time they needed to adjust. Before we reach Santiago we will have to cut out a total of 3 stages.

We decided that Comillas to Colombres was the perfect stage to cut being it was so long. So we ate breakfast, made a couple of friends and immediately went out separate ways. Our breakfast was weird little crackers and a hard baguette with jelly. We ended up starting in a tiny town right west of Colombres to make our hike for today about 12 miles. Our taxi driver's name? Santiago.

The walk was absolutely beautiful! Mostly pastures filled with cows, their bells ringing. We came across a few secluded beaches and breathtaking view points of both the sea and the mountains. At some point we deviated on accident from the original route to a "scenic route" which bypassed all the towns... leaving us once again without food all day. Mom somehow is always fine with that. I get hangry much easily...

After another scenic route deviation, this time on purpose, we made it to town. But not until after we had some insane incline, decline, exposed cliff edge, and dodged golf balls (not really) by walking by the back end of a golf course.

The first restaurant I saw that was serving food we stopped. We had our first "Menu Del Dia" a two course meal that comes with water, wine, and bread. Mom ordered lentils with chorizo and I ordered a salad for our first course. Both great and we switched halfway through, our favorite thing to do. Then for the main course I had a meal that was similar to chicken cordon bleu. It's two pieces of veal pounded thin with a slice of thin ham and cheese between then fried. Mom had a big slab of salty ham with fries. Both were great!

After having food I was much happier. We found our hostel. We have a private room tonight which is nice. We stayed in dorm style housing yesterday. We did our laundry and showered... I put lotion on my sunburn. Then we headed to the pilgrims mass. It was quick and maybe not quite as pius as I would've hoped, but I'm in no position to complain. Mass is just what I wanted. It felt like a spiritual salve for all the fears and hardness of heart.

We tried staying after mass to pray... but were shoood out by the sacristan right away. So we went and admired the campus that the church was on as well as the ocean right outside.

We found another small snack before bed at a restaurant and now we're back in our room. With supper we also had our first taste of Sidra. You should look up how Spaniards pour the sidra, it's so fun! It's 10:45 and I should already be sleeping.

Prayer today was much better. Even though I was cranky part of the walk from being hungry, I was able to invite the Lord into even that, as well as the rest of my small suffering and offer it up for all the prayer requests that we've been given. I also feel like I was able to open my heart up just a little further today. I'm eager to continue finding my own Camino.